Breast Health

Needle Biopsies for Breast Lesions Recommended over Surgical

For a woman with an abnormal mammogram, the next step is usually a biopsy to look for cancer cells. But in many cases, doctors are choosing a more invasive surgical biopsy over the preferred procedure - a needle biopsy.

Florida researchers found that although the rate of surgical biopsies should hover around 10 percent, 30 percent of the breast biopsies studied between 2003 and 2008 were done with that more invasive procedure. Since 80 percent of breast biopsies are benign, that translates to more than 300,000 women a year having surgery they do not need, the researchers say. Although the biopsies looked at by the researchers were done in Florida, the researchers believe the percentages mirror the situation throughout the U.S.

"After a while you keep seeing this, you say something's going on here," says study author Stephen R. Grobmyer, M.D., at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Procedure of choice

Other experts noted that needle biopsies should almost always be the preferred procedure.

"The take-home message for women is that needle biopsy has surpassed surgical biopsy as the initial tool to diagnose breast cancer," says Richard Shapiro, M.D., at the NYU Cancer Institute in New York City. "The majority of women almost always have a needle biopsy before requiring the surgical removal of any lesion."

There is also cost to consider: The study estimates that $37.2 million in health care expenditures could be saved if needle biopsies were always the procedure of choice.

"This is an important study which shows overzealous excision of breast lesions where the diagnosis could be made through minimally invasive interventional methods," says Deborah Axelrod, M.D., at the NYU Cancer Institute. "If they can be diagnosed without a trip to the operating room, then so much the better."EXT

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.

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April 2011

Early Detection for Breast Cancer

Early detection is often the key to successfully diagnosing and treating breast cancer. For good breast health and early detection of problems, follow these guidelines from the American Cancer Society (ACS):

The ACS recommends clinical breast exams (CBEs) at least every three years for all women in their 20s and 30s and annual CBEs for women ages 40 and older.

Mammography, an X-ray picture of the breast, can reveal breast lumps smaller than the size of a pea. Often mammography detects malignant tumors (or cancer) two years before they can be felt in a physical exam. The benefits and limitations of mammography vary based on factors like age and personal risk.

The ACS recommends yearly mammography screening for all women ages 40 and older. Women should talk with their doctors about their personal risk factors before making a decision about when to start getting mammograms or how often they should get them.

Women at known higher risk for breast cancer may need more frequent mammograms. Those at high risk should also get an MRI along with their mammogram.

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.